Residents of St. Ann Benefit from Medical Services Provided by Hope Mission 360

More than 1,000 residents from St. Ann benefited from a three-day medical mission spearheaded by HOPE Mission 360, a renowned nonprofit organisation committed to improving global healthcare access.

The mission, led by a team of dedicated medical professionals and volunteers, set up temporary clinics from June 9 to 11 in Ocho Rios, Golden Grove, Claremont, Moneague and Mount Edgecome in the parish, delivering healthcare services to those who found it difficult to afford or access medical care.

Ninety-five volunteer doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, and support staff came together to offer a range of essential medical services, including general check-ups, health screenings, dental care, eye examinations, gynaecological services and provision of prescription medications.

In addition to the medical support, educational sessions on preventive healthcare practices, hygiene, and healthy living were also conducted to empower residents with knowledge to improve their overall well-being.

In an interview with JIS News at the Golden Grove Primary school on June 11, Medical Director of the mission and Primary Care and Internal Medicine physician in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States, Dr. Alicia Shelly, highlighted the impact the seven-year-old organisation has had on residents.

“We actually do our best to see as many people as we can in the areas that we come. It is a blessing for me being a regular internal doctor to be able to come and serve people in different countries, and we are so happy to be here in Jamaica to be able to serve the people of Jamaica,” she said.

“We have had people who didn’t know they had high blood pressure whom we have been able to diagnose and give them medication and get them to follow up with their doctors here in Jamaica.

We had a patient who was having a mental issue and we were able to diagnose that and get that patient sent to the hospital to be admitted,” Dr. Shelley added.

She added that the mission also incorporated a give-back programme, with children being the main beneficiaries.

Two hundred and seventy-five backpacks with school supplies were distributed to students of Golden Grove Primary.

“We were able to give supplies, toiletries, toothbrushes, deodorant – whatever people may need we’ve been able to give it to residents. The children also got shoes, so we were able to donate to the kids who need them,” she pointed out.

Site Director for the initiative, Marvin McClain, explained that during the planning process, the organisation hosted various fund-raising activities to help offset costs.

“We pay our transportation, lodging and all the services are provided free of charge, so we also do fund-raising, so that we can provide the medication and other things that the folks here need. Once you are involved, you see the blessing,” he said.

It is his sixth year as a volunteer and Mr. McClain said the experience has been fulfilling, noting that he used his vacation time to serve on the mission.

For volunteer Registered Nurse from Miami, Florida, Rolando Norman, his drive to positively impact those in need inspired him to offer his services to the medical mission.

The Manchester native said it was encouraging to see the number of persons who had been positively impacted by the free healthcare service.

“The six years [as a volunteer] have been phenomenal… coming here to Jamaica has had a profound impact on me, knowing I was once one of those kids running in the streets without shoes and having fun. The only reason I am able to do this is because I got an opportunity, and now I am able to come back and give to the community,” he said.

Residents expressed their gratitude for the organisation’s assistance.

Keith Foreman, 75, from Claremont, said the assistance provided was top-notch, noting that he turned up at the clinic with higher than a normal blood pressure level “and the team provided immediate care to reduce the level”.

“I just want to say a special thanks for the awesome, tremendous work you guys are doing. We appreciate it very much, and the thing about it is that we can’t repay them for what they are doing,” he said.

Principal of Golden Grove Primary, Jason Simpson, said the school was happy to partner with the organisation to help alleviate the financial burden for parents.

“Healthcare is one of those things that is very expensive, and we welcome any sort of partnership that will ease the financial burden for parents and members of the community, and so we are very appreciative of what the medical team is doing, as otherwise, it would have cost a lot of money,” Mr. Simpson said.

He informed that some 500 students benefited from the mission, 96 of whom received free back-to-school medicals.

“We have some new students coming in and they are required to produce forms signed by doctors, so I am happy that the team was here… to do those medicals for our parents. I am indeed happy that we were able to benefit from this sort of initiative,” he added.

HOPE Mission 360 is a Seventh-day Adventist group that journey around the world to touch the lives of people.